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Population in Greece compared to South Africa: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Greece was 10,405,134 in 2024 vs 64,007,187 people in South Africa in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Greece's population is 10,181,414 people compared to 65,683,993 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 6.45 times bigger than Greece's.
  • Greece is ranked the 96th most populous country in the world, while South Africa is the 24th.
  • The countries together account for 0.92% of the world: 0.12% for Greece vs 0.79% for South Africa.
  • For the last 10 years, Greece has had an average growth rate of -0.47% per year vs +1.44% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of Greece has decreased from 11M people to 10.2M (7.61% decline), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.7M (31.4% growth).

Greece vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Greece
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Greece South Africa
2100 6,463,085 94,767,727
2099 6,505,287 94,556,931
2098 6,547,164 94,349,546
2097 6,589,081 94,158,472
2096 6,630,487 93,960,605
2095 6,671,006 93,752,736
2094 6,710,734 93,527,902
2093 6,749,510 93,300,398
2092 6,787,596 93,074,837
2091 6,824,775 92,826,204
2090 6,862,164 92,594,033
2089 6,900,089 92,355,184
2088 6,937,116 92,112,914
2087 6,973,450 91,866,024
2086 7,010,676 91,614,165
2085 7,048,751 91,385,350
2084 7,086,818 91,139,318
2083 7,124,743 90,877,425
2082 7,164,627 90,615,359
2081 7,205,487 90,345,492
2080 7,248,512 90,071,835
2079 7,292,836 89,801,998
2078 7,338,859 89,526,224
2077 7,387,671 89,249,206
2076 7,437,562 88,986,114
2075 7,489,139 88,713,215
2074 7,543,259 88,428,616
2073 7,600,155 88,149,885
2072 7,659,253 87,866,246
2071 7,719,672 87,540,177
2070 7,782,317 87,209,425
2069 7,847,153 86,901,512
2068 7,913,682 86,588,742
2067 7,980,659 86,268,392
2066 8,047,692 85,935,310
2065 8,114,348 85,604,376
2064 8,181,923 85,244,950
2063 8,250,274 84,875,503
2062 8,318,463 84,503,237
2061 8,386,919 84,132,885
2060 8,454,179 83,748,999
2059 8,522,250 83,354,923
2058 8,589,200 82,947,675
2057 8,655,428 82,538,045
2056 8,720,012 82,127,477
2055 8,783,558 81,698,196
2054 8,844,935 81,255,867
2053 8,903,834 80,818,632
2052 8,961,755 80,367,409
2051 9,018,494 79,886,672
2050 9,072,676 79,411,977
2049 9,126,801 78,925,493
2048 9,177,973 78,437,677
2047 9,228,605 77,922,211
2046 9,275,381 77,397,298
2045 9,321,349 76,879,838
2044 9,367,130 76,357,155
2043 9,411,608 75,827,709
2042 9,454,837 75,291,615
2041 9,499,098 74,748,408
2040 9,543,726 74,205,530
2039 9,588,298 73,663,047
2038 9,633,708 73,105,930
2037 9,679,362 72,532,742
2036 9,724,905 71,956,247
2035 9,771,397 71,362,555
2034 9,817,355 70,762,815
2033 9,863,589 70,153,205
2032 9,911,215 69,527,410
2031 9,956,924 68,890,002
2030 10,002,298 68,245,372
2029 10,047,641 67,573,179
2028 10,092,845 66,884,377
2027 10,137,354 66,190,258
2026 10,181,414 65,496,277
2025 10,223,023 64,770,314
2024 10,405,134 64,007,187
2023 10,407,351 63,212,384
2022 10,436,882 62,378,410
2021 10,569,207 61,502,603
2020 10,698,599 60,562,381
2019 10,721,582 59,587,885
2018 10,732,882 58,613,001
2017 10,754,679 57,635,162
2016 10,775,971 57,259,551
2015 10,820,883 56,723,537
2014 10,892,413 55,594,838
2013 10,965,211 54,678,791
2012 11,045,011 53,782,567
2011 11,104,899 52,995,205
2010 11,121,341 52,344,051
2009 11,107,017 51,728,516
2008 11,077,841 51,114,599
2007 11,048,473 50,528,584
2006 11,020,362 49,998,277
2005 10,987,314 49,490,033
2004 10,955,141 48,991,421
2003 10,928,070 48,500,348
2002 10,902,022 48,019,415
2001 10,862,132 47,566,800
2000 10,805,808 47,159,719
1999 10,761,698 46,730,335
1998 10,720,509 46,223,880
1997 10,661,259 45,666,838
1996 10,608,800 45,123,018
1995 10,562,153 44,541,554
1994 10,512,922 44,004,139
1993 10,460,415 43,297,156
1992 10,399,061 42,443,509
1991 10,319,927 41,687,898
1990 10,196,792 40,746,268
1989 10,089,498 39,628,575
1988 10,036,983 38,480,649
1987 10,000,595 37,326,190
1986 9,967,213 36,180,515
1985 9,934,300 35,042,093
1984 9,895,801 33,892,788
1983 9,846,627 32,739,304
1982 9,789,513 31,615,339
1981 9,729,350 30,541,044
1980 9,642,505 29,518,857
1979 9,548,258 28,634,162
1978 9,429,959 27,869,507
1977 9,308,479 27,118,952
1976 9,188,150 26,395,450
1975 9,046,541 25,690,940
1974 8,962,022 24,989,108
1973 8,929,086 24,294,263
1972 8,888,628 23,609,456
1971 8,831,036 22,942,143
1970 8,792,806 22,279,984
1969 8,772,764 21,614,676
1968 8,740,765 20,957,287
1967 8,684,088 20,314,066
1966 8,613,651 19,690,087
1965 8,550,333 19,089,380
1964 8,510,429 18,511,361
1963 8,479,625 17,954,564
1962 8,448,233 17,418,522
1961 8,398,050 16,908,035
1960 8,331,725 16,440,172

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/greece/south-africa | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Greece decreased by 244,391 people (a 2.22% decline), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Greece lost 594,557 people (a 5.52% decline), while South Africa's population increased by 8,424,442 people (a 14.7% growth).

Greece was ranked 74th most populous country in 2006 and is 96th in 2026. South Africa was ranked 24th in 2006 and still ranked 24th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Greece's population will shrink by 10.9% to 9,072,676 people with a rank change from 96th to 106th. The population of South Africa will increase by 20.9% to 79,411,977 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.

South Africa is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 94.8M people, while Greece's population already peaked in 2010 at 11.1M people and is projected to decrease to 6.46M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Greece
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Greece South Africa
2100 -0.65% 0.22%
2099 -0.64% 0.22%
2098 -0.64% 0.2%
2097 -0.62% 0.21%
2096 -0.61% 0.22%
2095 -0.59% 0.24%
2094 -0.57% 0.24%
2093 -0.56% 0.24%
2092 -0.54% 0.27%
2091 -0.54% 0.25%
2090 -0.55% 0.26%
2089 -0.53% 0.26%
2088 -0.52% 0.27%
2087 -0.53% 0.27%
2086 -0.54% 0.25%
2085 -0.54% 0.27%
2084 -0.53% 0.29%
2083 -0.56% 0.29%
2082 -0.57% 0.3%
2081 -0.59% 0.3%
2080 -0.61% 0.3%
2079 -0.63% 0.31%
2078 -0.66% 0.31%
2077 -0.67% 0.3%
2076 -0.69% 0.31%
2075 -0.72% 0.32%
2074 -0.75% 0.32%
2073 -0.77% 0.32%
2072 -0.78% 0.37%
2071 -0.8% 0.38%
2070 -0.83% 0.35%
2069 -0.84% 0.36%
2068 -0.84% 0.37%
2067 -0.83% 0.39%
2066 -0.82% 0.39%
2065 -0.83% 0.42%
2064 -0.83% 0.44%
2063 -0.82% 0.44%
2062 -0.82% 0.44%
2061 -0.8% 0.46%
2060 -0.8% 0.47%
2059 -0.78% 0.49%
2058 -0.77% 0.5%
2057 -0.74% 0.5%
2056 -0.72% 0.53%
2055 -0.69% 0.54%
2054 -0.66% 0.54%
2053 -0.65% 0.56%
2052 -0.63% 0.6%
2051 -0.6% 0.6%
2050 -0.59% 0.62%
2049 -0.56% 0.62%
2048 -0.55% 0.66%
2047 -0.5% 0.68%
2046 -0.49% 0.67%
2045 -0.49% 0.68%
2044 -0.47% 0.7%
2043 -0.46% 0.71%
2042 -0.47% 0.73%
2041 -0.47% 0.73%
2040 -0.46% 0.74%
2039 -0.47% 0.76%
2038 -0.47% 0.79%
2037 -0.47% 0.8%
2036 -0.48% 0.83%
2035 -0.47% 0.85%
2034 -0.47% 0.87%
2033 -0.48% 0.9%
2032 -0.46% 0.93%
2031 -0.45% 0.94%
2030 -0.45% 0.99%
2029 -0.45% 1.03%
2028 -0.44% 1.05%
2027 -0.43% 1.06%
2026 -0.41% 1.12%
2025 -1.75% 1.19%
2024 -0.02% 1.26%
2023 -0.28% 1.34%
2022 -1.25% 1.42%
2021 -1.21% 1.55%
2020 -0.21% 1.64%
2019 -0.11% 1.66%
2018 -0.2% 1.7%
2017 -0.2% 0.66%
2016 -0.42% 0.94%
2015 -0.66% 2.03%
2014 -0.66% 1.68%
2013 -0.72% 1.67%
2012 -0.54% 1.49%
2011 -0.15% 1.24%
2010 0.13% 1.19%
2009 0.26% 1.2%
2008 0.27% 1.16%
2007 0.26% 1.06%
2006 0.3% 1.03%
2005 0.29% 1.02%
2004 0.25% 1.01%
2003 0.24% 1%
2002 0.37% 0.95%
2001 0.52% 0.86%
2000 0.41% 0.92%
1999 0.38% 1.1%
1998 0.56% 1.22%
1997 0.49% 1.21%
1996 0.44% 1.31%
1995 0.47% 1.22%
1994 0.5% 1.63%
1993 0.59% 2.01%
1992 0.77% 1.81%
1991 1.21% 2.31%
1990 1.06% 2.82%
1989 0.52% 2.98%
1988 0.36% 3.09%
1987 0.33% 3.17%
1986 0.33% 3.25%
1985 0.39% 3.39%
1984 0.5% 3.52%
1983 0.58% 3.56%
1982 0.62% 3.52%
1981 0.9% 3.46%
1980 0.99% 3.09%
1979 1.25% 2.74%
1978 1.31% 2.77%
1977 1.31% 2.74%
1976 1.57% 2.74%
1975 0.94% 2.81%
1974 0.37% 2.86%
1973 0.46% 2.9%
1972 0.65% 2.91%
1971 0.43% 2.97%
1970 0.23% 3.08%
1969 0.37% 3.14%
1968 0.65% 3.17%
1967 0.82% 3.17%
1966 0.74% 3.15%
1965 0.47% 3.12%
1964 0.36% 3.1%
1963 0.37% 3.08%
1962 0.6% 3.02%
1961 0.8% 2.85%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/greece/south-africa | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Greece declined by 0.02%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.26%.

Live population counters

Greece South Africa
Current population
10181414
65683993
Population rank 96/197 24/197
Percent of world population 0.12% 0.79%
One net population change
3.95 hours
39.7 seconds
One birth every
7.43 minutes
26.6 seconds
One death every
4.14 minutes
54 seconds
Daily growth/decline -6 +2,178
Annual growth/decline -2,217 +794,803
Annual growth/decline rate -0.02% +1.26%
Population growth rate rank 165/197 85/197
One migration net change every
31.7 minutes
3.6 minutes
Annual migration change +16,636 +146,370
Net migration rank 37/196 9/196
Foreign-born residents 1,423,964 2,631,100
Foreign-born residents rank 46/195 28/195
Foreign-born share of population 14.2% 4.1%
Foreign-born share rank 47/195 105/195

Natural population change vs migration

Greece
Natural

Migration
South Africa
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Greece South Africa
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 16,636 - 146,370
2024 - -122,772 - 166,972
2023 -56,200 -159,430 602,793 228,222
2022 -63,665 -53,997 603,636 233,284
2021 -58,131 -160,277 456,411 458,246
2020 -46,004 6,353 595,873 369,901
2019 -41,814 36,762 652,130 331,124
2018 -33,272 17,938 648,319 318,260
2017 -36,566 10,483 645,975 343,146
2016 -25,862 10,484 641,365 -879,235
2015 -29,216 -43,462 668,771 641,150
2014 -20,696 -46,678 674,754 272,697
2013 -17,545 -59,323 652,427 232,230
2012 -16,568 -65,364 643,723 264,091
2011 -4,441 -31,786 601,708 65,166
2010 5,560 2,001 566,834 68,563
2009 8,886 18,182 554,115 41,528
2008 11,077 27,081 595,332 36,869
2007 2,210 25,400 503,567 36,339
2006 6,612 27,621 487,584 33,159
2005 2,197 33,297 464,464 31,286
2004 0 29,039 442,540 58,924
2003 -1,093 25,323 415,018 65,604
2002 0 25,692 430,926 50,313
2001 0 60,387 484,801 -60,793
2000 -1,081 54,661 526,963 -136,794
1999 -2,153 49,930 594,643 -126,011
1998 -2,144 47,856 627,027 -82,722
1997 2,133 45,671 667,969 -98,181
1996 0 43,444 710,868 -193,007
1995 1,056 42,674 743,488 -98,403
1994 6,307 42,897 698,609 -268,849
1993 4,185 39,829 789,220 194,977
1992 6,239 41,000 794,415 -71,342
1991 6,192 37,917 827,296 -39,131
1990 8,157 26,294 835,421 259,718
1989 9,080 18,862 884,629 255,605
1988 15,055 20,557 909,221 246,382
1987 10,001 19,005 922,330 231,009
1986 20,931 19,064 903,644 234,378
1985 22,849 16,093 893,889 244,940
1984 37,604 19,767 869,011 290,789
1983 42,341 18,655 837,013 310,172
1982 50,906 19,675 807,550 293,195
1981 54,484 25,061 767,833 279,985
1980 60,748 47,460 738,415 258,127
1979 65,882 72,184 716,541 56,323
1978 64,124 60,775 694,341 62,121
1977 59,574 19,193 680,929 63,739
1976 65,236 89,601 675,011 27,333
1975 61,516 61,265 667,862 38,809
1974 68,111 -22,590 658,438 38,518
1973 59,824 -42,387 651,596 41,125
1972 64,887 -3,589 638,754 38,163
1971 67,116 -12,747 624,761 32,961
1970 71,222 -54,166 605,102 61,514
1969 82,464 -118,544 590,794 73,225
1968 87,408 -429 571,841 78,932
1967 91,183 -55,853 553,741 81,932
1966 86,998 21,206 534,862 77,417
1965 83,793 -81,576 506,632 82,514
1964 83,402 -76,678 490,606 76,298
1963 81,404 -77,345 473,821 72,844
1962 85,327 -74,972 455,634 69,771
1961 86,500 -61,102 437,851 57,728
1960 96,648 -15,996 421,263 18,891

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/greece/south-africa | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 51.9% of the population change in Greece is from natural causes (a loss of 411,426 people) and 48.1% is from migration (a loss of 381,824 people). In South Africa 72.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 6,190,027 people) and 27.2% is from migration (a gain of 2,316,795 people).

As of 2024, 1,423,964 residents or 14.2% of the population were not native-born in Greece, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.

Biggest cities by population

Greece
City Population
Athens 643K
Crete 623K
Thessaloniki 310K
Patras 174K
Piraeus 168K
Larissa 146K
Heraklion 145K
Peristeri 134K
Kallithea 97.6K
Glyfada 89.6K
South Africa
City Population
Johannesburg 4.8M
Cape Town 3.78M
Soweto 1.27M
Pietermaritzburg 839K
Pretoria 742K
Durban 595K
Rustenburg 550K
Randburg 337K
Port Elizabeth 312K
East London 267K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/population/greece/south-africa | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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